WATERSIDE DISPUTE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 March 1940, Page 5

WATERSIDE DISPUTE

ATTITUDE OF AUCKLAND MEN REFUSAL or OVERTIME WORK. UNTIT, NEW AGREEMENT HAS BEEN MADE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, March 6. Auckland walers id ers decided today to refuse to work overthue loading and unloading vessels fill their claims lor a new agreement are met. An official statement issued after the weekly stopwork meeting follows: "Tlie question of a new agreement governing work on the waterfront was fully discussed by members of the union, and dissatisfaction was rampant because the employers had failed to negotiate a new agreement. The men have been without an agreement since June 30. 19.38. The employers, on occasions, have made offers of a piecework system, but these have covered. only approximately 20 per cent of the men employed in the industry. Proposals submitted by the employers were not acceptable to the Northern Union, and when this report was conveyed back to members of the Auckland. branch today, the men decided to take action for the purpose of securing' an early hearing of their dispute. A decision was made that no overtime would be worked. This means that work will cease each day on the wharves at 5 p.m.”

SERIOUS POSITION IMPORTANCE OF AVOIDING SHIPPING DELAYS. HARBOUR BOARD MAY TAKE CONTROL. AUCKLAND, March 6. “Power to take over the handling of waterside labour on its wharves is vested in the Auckland Harbour Board, and, if necessary, this power will be used,” said the board chairman, Mr W. B. Darlow, referring to the refusal of the Waterside Workers’ Union to work overtime. “It is not my intention at this juncture to apportion the blame, but I wish to point out to all concerned that the harbour board is taking a very serious view of the situation,” Mr Darlow continued. "Under this system the port’s assets of £5,500,000 are lying as idle as a monument, and the board does not intend to sit by idly and see its up-to-date equipment rendered ineffective.” It had been the board's policy to keep out of disputes affecting cargo handling, but so many things had happened in the past year or so to slow down cargo work, that the board was now faced with the necessity of endeavouring to rectify the position. Everyone knew the importance of produce reaching England with the least possible delay, said Mr Darlow. Berthage accommodation in the port had been severely taxed during the last year, and tlie board was constructing more facilities. This work of providing more accommodation for ships, however, was being nullified by the decisions of disputing parties. "Would it be asking too much, in. these critical days, for tlie parties to come together and agree on some method of beginning work on a ship when she ties up and working continuously in three shifts till she is cast off?” Mr Darlow concluded. “If somethings on these lines could be agreed to, I am sure it would be in the interests of port authorities, shipping companies and, most, important, of all, it would be a contribution from those who arc not able, for various reasons, to don uniform, to assist in our war effort.

“I trust that common sense and loyalty to our Empire will prevail.”

EMPLOYERS PROTEST

NO INTIMATION OF UNION DECISION. FAST DISPATCH OF SHIPS MOST URGENT. AUCKLAND. March G. Criticism of the fact that the Auckland branch of the Waterside Workers' Union had given no direct intimation of its decision to the Auckland Shipping and Stevedores’ Association even by the time for the overtime call at 3.45 p.m. today, was expressed by the chairman of the association, Captain Lewis. He said the first official intimation given the employers of the union’s intention not to work overtime was contained in a statement issued to the public. “Not only have the employers offered the Waterside Workers' Federation a piecework system, namely, payment: by results, plus a bonus for the dispatch of ships, but they have also offered to submit and discuss any scheme either their own or any that, the federation could produce, with a view to improving waterfront conditions mid expediting the dispatch of ships,” said Captain Lewis.

“The fast dispatch of ships is now of necessity most urgent.” Employers were met by the federation with a blank refusal to discuss or consider any scheme till the employers agreed to an immediate increase in the hourly wage rate. This matter was sub judice and in the hands of the Court of Arbitration.

“Shipowners are not prepared to accept responsibility for any increase in wages," Captain Lewis concluded. "A. delay in the hearing of the case by the Court of Arbitration is centainly no fault of the employers, who have endeavoured to expedite the hearing and have pressed the Government for assistance in this direction.”

STOPWORK MEETING

EXTENDED IN WELLINGTON. SHIPOWNERS ACCUSED ' OF OBSTRUCTION. WELLINGTON. This Day. ' The monthly stop-work meeting of I the Wellington Waterside Workers’; Union, yesterday morning lasted till 11.40 a.m. instead of till 10 a.m. as is laid down in the award. In conse- j i quence no work was started on (he I I waterfront, till I p.m. There was a p large attendance at the meeting. No ’ statement ns to any decision was made, ■ >

but Mi- E. E. Canham. president of the union, issued the following statement. for publication:— “Because of the inability of our national officers to effect a new Dominion agreement, due to the refusal of the shipowners at various times, and their obstructive tactics, members decided this morning to discuss the position at length and try to find a remedy."

DENIAL BY EMPLOYERS. When the statement by Mr Canham was referred to Mr W. H. G. Bennett general secretary of the New Zealand Waterside Employers’ Association, he emphatically denied the allegations of the union, and stated that at no time had the employers used any obstructive tactics toward the formation of a | now award for the waterside industry. J Tile effect of Hie union’s action in t continuing this stop-work meeting for II nearly two hours more than it was entitled to under the award might be to 1 cause delay in the dispatch of the four overseas vessels working - at the port, continued Mr Bennett. There was also the delay caused to the Lyttelton. Nelson and Picton passenger steamers and to the coastal vessels in port, as the work of the port- did not start till 1 p.m. instead of 10 a.m.. and this mean! extra overtime at increased cost. Statements tiiat the award expired nearly two years ago were incorrect. The term fixed for the currency of the award was till June 30, 1938. and such award, by virtue of the provisions of the I.C. and A. Act. continued in force till a new award replaced it.